Coupling mechanism.



49 My \//%A//2 W. BARBER.

COUPLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6, 1916,

1,324,777. Patentd Dec. 10,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WW 4 w /6' W. BARBER.

COUPLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6, 1916.

1,324,777. Patent-ed Dec. 16,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v Jnvemroz wm Q QM W. BARBER.

COUPLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1916.

1 324,777. v Patented Dec. 16,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"WILLIAM BARBER, OF NEW YORK, ."ul'. '55., ASSIGNQR ABA 8.,BARBER, FIBEDOKLYN,

NEVJ YORK.

CQ'UPLING' MECHAYNTSFJI.

Application filed August 16, 1916.

To all whcmz't may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BARBER, a citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Kings,State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention inCoupling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coupling mecha" nism.

The object of the invention is to provide a coupling mechanism forcoupling tractors and trailers, cars or the like, which is simple instructure, efiicient in operation and economical of manufacture.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a coupling device whichis especially adapted for use in connection with motor truck tractorsand trailers.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tractor and trailer employinga coupling mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of a coupling mechanism. 7

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line A--B, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line OD, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line EF, Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation of the operating links employed inthe modification shownin Fig. 7. v

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I have shown my invention as applied to amotor tractor and trailer, wherein I provide a member 10 pivotallymounted in bearings 11 which are carried by the tractor. The member 10is Specification of Letters Eat-ant.

Patented ha. is, rare.

Serial No. 115,243.

provided with a chamber adapted to receive a plunger 12 therein. Theplunger 12 is pivotally connected to swivel plate 16 by a pin 17, towhich said plunger 12 is connected by pin 18 as shown. The plate 16 iscarried by the trailer. A shock absorbing pad 21, may be placed in thebottom of the menr ber 10 to receive the lower end of the plunger 12 asshown in Fig. i.

Springs 19 are interposed between the plate 16 and member 10 to absorbor retard the shock or movement of the tractor and trailer relative toeach other.

The main portion of the plunger 12 extends into the chamber of member10, and is provided with an annular groove 15. The member 10 has formedas a part thereof a casing containing the spring 14: which normallypresses a collar 51 forming part of a bolt rod 13, toward the hollowchamber of member 10, thus pressing the ends'of the rod 13 into theannular groove 15 of the plunger 12, and to retain the same in thechamber of member 10, but at the same time allowing free swivelingmovement of the plunger therein. From this it will be seen that I haveprovided a coupling mechanism which is exceedingly simple in structure,efiicient in operation, and which may be cheaply manufactured, beingmade of but a few standard parts.

The rod or bolt 13 may be operated in any desired manner. In Fig. 1 Ishow a simple arrangement where the coupling device is employed inconnection with a motor truck and trailer. T designates the motor truckand P the trailer. Pivotally mounted on the truck Tis a bell crank leverQ, one arm of which is provided with a hook portion A, and the other armof which is loosely connected to bolt rod 13, by the connection R. Thetrailer P is provided with a pin or lug S, over which the hook A isadapted to fit. To join the tractor and trailer the tractor is backed upto the trailer, the front end of the latter being held in sufiicientlyraised position, and in any suitable manner, such, for instance,ias setforth in my Patent No. 1,179,793,'issued April 18, 1916, thereby causingthe plunger 12 to clear the top of the member 10. The lever Q is thendropped so that the hook A engages the pin S, the arm R therebywithdrawing the bolt 13 and by starting forward the tractor, the lever Qdraws the (ill trailer jorward with it, thereby releasing the front endof the trailer from the supportwhich maintains it raised, as explainedin my said patent, and allows the plunger 12 to descend into the chamberof member 10. The lever Q, then may be raised to allow the bolt 13 toengage the annular channel 15 of the plunger. To further facilitate thereception of the plunger 12 in the member 10, the end of the plunger maybe beveled as shown best in Fig. 4, thereby insuring a proper insertionof the plunger in the chamber of member 10.

lhe withdrawal of the rod 13 from out of the hollowmem'ber 10 may alsobe accomplished from the operating end of the vehicle T in any desiredor well known manner. 1 show a simple arrangement wherein a rod isconnected to the member R and to a foot pedal pivotally carried by thebody of the vehicle T. It will be understood, however, that myinvention, in its broad scope, as defined in the claims, is not to belimited or restricted in this respect.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, I show a modified structure embodying myinvention, and one which may be readily applied to trains or the like.In this arrangement the bearings 11' which support the member 10 arecarried by one car and the plunger 1'2 is carried by the car to becoupled. I prefer to-employ two bolts 13 operated simultaneously from acommon point. .To accomplish this I provide yokes 25, one for each bolt13, engaging the same as shown. The yokes 25 are pivotally carried bybrackets 26 secured to the bearings 11. The outer ends of the yokemembers are pivotally connected to the links 27, which links arelikewise pivotally connected to each other by comparatively shorterlinks 28; The links 28 are secured to a handle R at their approximatemiddles. Thus it will be seen that when the handle R is turned in eitherdirection, the links 28 are moved thereby pulling toward each other thelinks 27, and the yoke members 25, thereby withdrawing the bolts 13 fromthe annular channel 15 oi": the plunger 12. I

Having now set "forth the objects and nature of my invention, and havingshown and described various embodiments thereof, what I claim as newuseful, and desire to secure by Letters is," 1. In coupling mechanism,the combina tion of c IDlC-Gl'fid member and an enl pivotally to be conpied, said iv, in her of numbered retain engagins member its hechamberc-zd memb and means for aunnatically detaching d engaging mom-"'rom said chambe member.

said bodies, plunger,

carried the re tion of a chambered member and an engageingmemberpivotally carried by the respectivebodies to be coupled, saidengaging member adapted to be received in the chamber of said chamberedmember, and means to retain said engaging m ember in its seat in thechambered member, and means to allow the swiveling movement of saidengaging member relative to said chambered member, and means forautomatically detaching said engaging member from said chambered member.

3; In a coupling mechanism, the combi nation with the bodies to becoupled, of a plunger pivotally carried by one of said bodies, areceptacle pivotally carried by the other of'said bodies, and adapted toreceive said plunger, and means for locking said plunger in saidreceptacle and means for automatically releasing said locking means.

4. In a coupling mechanism, the combination with the bodies to becoupled, of a plunger pivotally carried by one ,of said bodies, areceptacle pivotally car'ied by the other of said bodies, and adapted toreceive said plunger, and means for locking said plunger in saidreceptacle and means for allowing r'ree swiveling movement oi.

said plunger in said receptacle, and means for automatically releasingsaid locking means.

5. In a coupling mechanism, the combination with the bodies to becoupled, of aplunger pivotally carried by one of said bodies, andprovided with an annular groove, a receptacle pivotally carried by theother of and automatically detachable means for engaging said groove tolock said plunger in said receptacle.

6. In a coupling mechanism, the combination with the bodies to becoupled, of a plunger pivotally carried by one .of said bodies, andprovided with an annular groove, a receptacle pivotally carried by theother of said bodies, and adapted to receive said plunger and a boltadapted to project into said receptacle and. intothe groove of saidplunger and means for automatically retracting bolt out of said groove.

The combination with a tractor and t 'ler, Or an engaging device carriedsaid t ale a receptacle adapted to receive said engaging device, andcarried by said tractor, means for connecting tractor and trailer, andmeans operated by said connect means for allow said engaging device tobe received by said receptacle.

8. The con with a trac Jr and engaging device carried by eceptacleadapted to eive .zevice, carried b said or lo said enga said to allow fls Lib and adapted to receive said swiveling movement thereof thereinmeans for connecting said tractor and trailer, and

means operable by said connecting means for withdrawing said lockingmeans.

9. The combination with a tractor and trailer, of a plunger carried bysaid trailer adapted to have free pivotal movement relative thereto, areceptacle carried by said tractor, and adapted to have free pivotalmovement relative thereto, and to receive said plunger therein, andmeans for yieldingly locking said plunger in said receptacle.

10. The combination with a tractor and trailer, of a plunger carried bysaid trailer adapted to have free pivotal movement relative thereto, areceptacle carried by said tractor, and adapted to have freev pivotalmovement relative thereto, and to receive said plunger therein, andmeans for yieldingly locking said plunger in said receptacle to allowthe free swiveling movement of 4 said plunger in said receptacle.

11. The combination with a tractor and trailer, of a plunger carried bysaid trailer adapted to have free pivotal movement relative thereto, andprovided with an annular groove, a receptacle carried by said tractorand adapted to have free pivotal movement relative thereto, and toreceive said plunger therein, and a bolt adapted to yieldingly projectinto said receptacle and normally maintained in' the groove of saidplunger.

12. The combination with a tractor and trailer, of a plunger carried bysaid trailer, a receptacle carried by said tractor to receive saidplunger and afford a connecting means between said tractor and trailer,and means for allowing swivel movement between said tractor and trailerabout the vertical longitudinal and transverse axes of the point ofconnection between said tractor and trailer and retractable means forlocking said plunger in said receptacle.

13. The combination with a tractor and trailer, of a plunger carried bysaid trailer, a receptacle carried by said tractor to receive saidplunger and alford a connecting means between said tractor and trailer,and means for allowing swivel movement between said tractor and trailerabout the vertical longitudinal and transverse axes of the point ofconnection between said tractor and trailer, and springs positioned onopposite sides of said plunger and interposed "between said tractor andtrailer.

'14. The combination with a tractor and trailer,of a plunger carried bysaid trailer,

a receptacle carried by said tractor to re ceive said plunger and afforda connecting means between sald tractor and trailer, and means forallowing swlvel movement between said tractor and trailer about the vertical longitudinal and transverse axes of the point of connectionbetween said tractor and trailer, and springs carried by said tractorand positioned on opposite sides of said plunger and interposed betweensaid tractor and trailer at the point of connection there between. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of August,A. D. 1916.

WILLIAM BARBER.

